RADIOVATICANA REPORT: On
this second Sunday of Lent, Pope Benedict began his day with a visit to the
Roman parish of John the Baptist de la Salle, south of the capital. The Holy
Father celebrated mass and met parishioners including a group of children. He
told them to learn about Jesus, the things he did, said and how he suffered. He
also told them to learn about the church and the sacraments.

Sunday
4th
of March is also the feast of the Transfiguration and on his return to the
Vatican Pope Benedict focused on this event during is Angelus
address.

The Pope explained to those gathered in St Peter’s Square that
there are essential elements involved when Jesus is transfigured before the
apostles, they are the light and the voice: the divine light that shines on the
face of Jesus, and the voice of the Heavenly Father who speaks to
him.

The Holy Father went on to say that with the mystery of the
Transfiguration Jesus is being directed toward the fulfillment of his mission,
knowing that in order to attain resurrection, he will undergo suffering and
death on a cross.

The Pope also explained that Jesus takes his friends
with him to the mountain because he wants to give them the most intimate
experience of this light, dwelling in Him, so that after this event, he will be
their inner light, and will be able to protect them from the assaults of
darkness.

Jesus is the light that never goes out said the Pope
Benedict.

Following the recitation of the Angelus the Pope spoke to the
faithful in an number of languages.

USCCB
REPORT: WASHINGTON—Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York voiced dismay in the
Administration’s handling of the church as the White House and the church seek
to work out religious freedom problems found in a mandate in the new health care
reform bill.

After

The mandate drew
church ire when it required that all employers, including religious ones, pay
for contraceptives – including abortifacients – and sterilization for employees
despite church teaching against them.

He also promised to provide
educational materials to parishes and to pursue legislative and judicial efforts
to restore respect for religious freedom in the nation.

Given
church concerns about religious freedom, Cardinal Dolan wrote, “the President
invited us to ‘work out the wrinkles.’ We have accepted that invitation.
Unfortunately, this seems to be stalled: the White House Press Secretary, for
instance, informed the nation that the mandates are a fait accompli (and,
embarrassingly for him, commented that we bishops have always opposed Health
Care anyway, a charge that is scurrilous and insulting, not to mention flat out
wrong.”)

Cardinal Dolan also said that “The White House already notified
Congress that the dreaded mandates are now published in the Federal Registry
‘without change.’ He added that “The Secretary of HHS is widely quoted as
saying, ‘Religious insurance companies don’t really design the plans they sell
based on their own religious tenets.’ That doesn’t bode well for their getting a
truly acceptable 'accommodation.'"

Cardinal Dolan also described a recent
meeting at the White House between bishops’ conference staff and White House
staff, and said “our staff members asked directly whether the broader concerns
of religious freedom—that is, revisiting the straight-jacketing mandates, or
broadening the maligned exemption—are all off the table. They were informed that
they are. So much for ‘working out the wrinkles.’ Instead, they advised the
bishops’ conference that we should listen to the ‘enlightened’ voices of
accommodation, such as the recent, hardly surprising yet terribly unfortunate
editorial in America.”

“The White House seems to think we bishops simply
do not know or understand Catholic teaching and so, taking a cue from its own
definition of religious freedom, now has nominated its own handpicked official
Catholic teachers.”

Cardinal Dolan also said “We will continue to accept
invitations to meet with and to voice our concerns to anyone of any party, for
this is hardly partisan, who is willing to correct the infringements on
religious freedom that we are now under. But as we do so, we cannot rely on off
the record promises of fixes without deadlines and without assurances of
proposals that will concretely address the concerns in a manner that does not
conflict with our principles and teaching.”

He added that “Congress might
provide more hope, since thoughtful elected officials have proposed legislation
to protect what should be so obvious: religious freedom. Meanwhile, in our
recent debate in the senate, our opponents sought to obscure what is really a
religious freedom issue by maintaining that abortion inducing drugs and the like
are a ‘woman’s health issue.’ We will not let this deception stand. Our
commitment to seeking legislative remedies remains strong. And it is about
remedies to the assault on religious freedom. Period.”

Cardinal Dolan
added that “Perhaps the courts offer the most light."

Cardinal Dolan
warned the bishops that “given this climate, we have to prepare for tough times.
Some, like America magazine, want us to cave-in and stop fighting, saying this
is simply a policy issue; some want us to close everything down rather than
comply (in an excellent article, Cardinal Francis George wrote that the
administration apparently wants us to ‘give up for Lent’ our schools, hospitals,
and charitable ministries); some, like Bishop Robert Lynch wisely noted, wonder
whether we might have to engage in civil disobedience and risk steep fines; some
worry that we’ll have to face a decision between two ethically repugnant
choices: subsidizing immoral services or no longer offering insurance coverage,
a road none of us wants to travel.”

Cardinal Dolan added that “we know so
very well that religious freedom is our heritage, our legacy and our firm
belief, both as loyal Catholics and Americans. There have been many threats to
religious freedom over the decades and years, but these often came from without.
This one sadly comes from within. As our ancestors did with previous threats, we
will tirelessly defend the timeless and enduring truth of religious
freedom.”

According to various news sources several exploxions
have killed over 100 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa.
Apparently, over 2,000 have been injured in these blasts. This occured in
Brazzaville, the capital. They happened after 8am on Sunday, March 4, 2012. A
fire was the cause of the detination in a ammunition dumping bay. The powerful
force of the blasts damaged buildings miles away. According to witnesses a
nearby church filled with worshippers collapsed. Some were very badly injured
and filled up local hospitals.

The people of Sandhurst Diocese warmly welcomed newly
appointed Bishop Leslie Tomlinson DD at the installation Mass held at Sacred
Heart Cathedral in Bendigo yesterday. About 1500 people filled the cathedral,
coming from all areas of the diocese, as well as family, friends and colleagues
from the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

More than 90 priests and 23 bishops,
locally and from interstate, concelebrated at the Mass, including Archbishop
Denis Hart DD from Melbourne, Archbishop Adrian Doyle AM DD from Hobart, His
Excellency Most Rev Giuseppe Lazarotto, Apostolic Nuncio to Australia and Rev
Mgr Francis Marriott, the Diocesan Administrator for Sandhurst, who provided a
heart-felt welcome to Bishop Tomlinson on behalf the people of
Sandhurst.

Bishop Tomlinson is the seventh bishop of the Sandhurst
Diocese at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Bendigo, following the death of Bishop Joe
Grech. He was installed as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Melbourne in
June 200, and served as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia from 2003 to
2012.

Upon his arrival and procession into the cathedral, Bishop
Tomlinson was greeted by Mgr Marriott who offered him a crucifix (owned by
Bishop Reville) to kiss and holy water with which to bless himself and the
congregation.

Bishop Tomlinson then prayed and vested within the Blessed
Sacrament Chapel and was presented with the Mitre (owned by Bishop Grech) and
Crozier (owned by Bishop McCarthy) in the sanctuary. He was accompanied by
Archbishop Hart and Mgr Marriot as he sat in the bishop’s seat for the first
time. His episcopal coat of arms and motto, ‘In Christ’s Name’, sits above the
seat.

In his homily, Bishop Tomlinson said, “We are familiar with St
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (1Cor.12:4-11), where he writes that each
of us receives particular gifts from God, which we are called upon to contribute
to the building up of the Church.”

“In my own life, my response to God's
call has led me from my childhood and youth in Mildura to the seminary. Then as
a priest, apart from short period of three years working in the Archdiocese of
Hobart in the mid to late 70s, I have lived out my priesthood in the Archdiocese
of Melbourne.

“In recent years, it has been my privilege to serve in the
roles of leadership as Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop in Melbourne. And now,
I come to be with you, as your bishop of Sandhurst. I know that my life, which
has been a rich and fulfilling one, will continue to be graced by God in service
of his people in this diocese.

“Coming amongst you to take up this call
to be your bishop - sanctifier, teacher of the faith, and leader - I do so,
humbled by the confidence shown in me and confident, through the Holy Spirit, of
a blessed outcome.

“As my model I take Christ Jesus himself who is the
sanctifier, teacher and leader par excellence. For this reason I have
chosen for my Episcopal motto ‘In Christ’s Name’.

“My role of Chief
Pastor of the diocese is a particularly rich one and I commit myself to striving
to fulfil it generally as your bishop and where possible to you individually.
This role of pastor has special significance in my relationship with the clergy
of the diocese, to whom I am called to be their Father in Christ. In the months
ahead, I look forward to coming to know you priests and to developing true
friendship with you. You are the first collaborators with the bishop in the
endeavours of the Church.”SOURCE : http://www.cam.org.au/

ASIA NEWS
REPORT: Government sources claim a 65 per cent
turnout, a good result to Supreme Leader Khamenei's appeal. However, only
conservatives are running since the opposition is no longer in the picture.
Nevertheless, the regime is also not taking any chances, arresting dissidents;
journalists have also disappeared.

Tehran (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Official Iranian
sources claim that 65 per cent of Iran's 52 per cent eligible voters cast their
ballot in yesterday's parliamentary elections. However, the report cannot be
independently verified, as all else concerning the election to Iran's 290-seat
Majlis (parliament). If it were true, it would vindicate Iran's Supreme Leader,
Ali Khamenei, who had called for a large turnout.

Although not running
for office, Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are the real players. The
vote itself is a virtual referendum on the president, who has been at
loggerheads with the supreme leader for much of his second mandate, and now has
one more year before the next presidential elections in 2013, when he will not
be able to run.

Ahmadinejad never had a majority in parliament. Now
however, observers are waiting to see how will manage to govern in his last year
in power. Early results bode ill for him; even his sister Parvin failed to
secure a seat in Garmsar, the president's home town.

Iranian elections
are very peculiar, quite different from Western standards of democracy. All
candidates must be vetted and approved by the regime. They must also be
university trained and faithful to the ruling theocracy.

In the current
round of voting, the competition is between the pro-Khamenei United Front of
Principalists and the pro-Ahmadinejad Resistance Front.

The opposition
Green movement is not a player any more. Its leaders, Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi
Karroubi, are under de facto house arrest since February 2011. They had lost in
the 2009 presidential elections.

Still, one pro-reform candidate,
Mohammadreza Tabesh, was elected yesterday.

Despite all its controls, the
regime is still concerned. Opposition sources say that in the weeks leading up
to the vote, repression against journalists, lawyers and electronic media
intensified.

In the latest episode, Reza Jelodarzadeh, a veteran of the
Iran-Iraq War who was wounded in combat, was arrested. He is the editor-in-chief
of the recently banned Sobh-e Azadi magazine. His family knows nothing
about his whereabouts.

His is the most glaring case, but not the only
one. A 2011 Amnesty international report noted that public executions rose
four-fold last year and death penalties doubled.

Today, February 24, the Holy Father
received in audience Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general emeritus of His
Holiness for the diocese of Rome.
‘Vatican Insider’ Andrea Tornielli says
the meeting was to discuss the progress of the Medjugorje investigation.
This
evening Pope Benedict XVI is also scheduled to receive in audience Cardinal
William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
(CDF).
Cardinal Ruini presides over the Holy See’s commission currently
investigating the Medjugorje phenomenon and which, according to a recent Italian
press report and a quote attributed to Cardinal Vinko Puljic who sits on the
commission, should be concluded by the end of the year and presented to the CDF
and the Pope for consideration.

This week it was
reported that four of the Medjugorje visionaries, Ivan, Jakov, Marija and
Mirjana gave evidence to the commission in Rome on Monday. All meetings with the
visionaries have taken place in a hall of the CDF where the archives of the
study group are kept.

The Holy See currently stands by the
declaration made at the ordinary session of the Bishop’s Conference of
Yugoslavia almost 21 years ago in April 1991, that “so far it cannot be affirmed
that one is dealing with supernatural apparitions and revelations”

The Commission of that time said it would continue
to keep up with and investigate the entire event in Medjugorje. However, with
the break up of Yugoslavia into separate countries its last conference was held
in 1993.
In July 2006 Cardinal Vinko Puljic of Sarajevo announced that the
Holy See had commissioned the Bosnia & Herzegovina bishops’ conference to
begin another review into the alleged Marian apparitions at Medjugorje with a
particular emphasis on the question of shrine status which had been inferred by
the Yugoslavia bishops’ conference. Two years went by with nothing seemingly
undertaken and then in March 2008 it was confirmed that the matter of Medjugorje
had been handed back to the Vatican and that the national commission no longer
had plans to take action.
On March 17, 2010, it was announced that the Holy
See was to set up its own commission to investigate the Medjugorje phenomenon,
headed by the Italian cardinal Camillo Ruini.

After
these things God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here
am I."

2

He said,
"Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of
Mori'ah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of
which I shall tell you."

9

When they
came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there, and
laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon
the wood.

10

Then
Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

11

But the
angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And
he said, "Here am I."

12

He said,
"Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you
fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."

13

And
Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught
in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up
as a burnt offering instead of his son.

15

And the
angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven,

16

and said,
"By myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this, and have not
withheld your son, your only son,

17

I will
indeed bless you, and I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven
and as the sand which is on the seashore. And your descendants shall possess the
gate of their enemies,

18

and by
your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves, because
you have obeyed my voice."

St Casimir was the third among the thirteen children of
Casimir III, King of Poland, and of Elizabeth of Austria, daughter to the
Emperor Albert II, a most virtuous woman, who died in 1505. He was born in 1458,
on the 3rd of October. From his childhood he was remarkably pious and devout.
His preceptor was John Dugloss, called Longinus, canon of Cracow, a man of
extraordinary learning and piety, who constantly refused all bishoprics and
other dignities of the church and state which were pressed upon him. Uladislas,
the eldest son, was elected King of Bohemia in 1471, and became King of Hungary
in 1490. Our saint was the second son; John Albert the third son, succeeded the
father in the kingdom of Poland in 1492; and Alexander, the fourth son, was
called to the same in 1501. Casimir and the other princes were so affectionately
attached to the holy man, who was their preceptor, that they could not bear to
be separated from him. But Casimir profited most by his pious maxims and
example. He consecrated the flower of his age to the exercises of devotion and
penance, and had a horror of that softness and magnificence which reign in
courts His clothes were very plain, and under them he wore a hair shirt. His bed
was frequently the ground, and he spent a considerable part of the night in
prayer and meditation, chiefly on the passion of our Saviour. He often went out
in the night to pray before the church-doors; and in the morning waited before
them till they were opened to assist at matins. By living always under a sense
of the divine presence he remained perpetually united to, and absorbed in, his
Creator, maintained an uninterrupted cheerfulness of temper, and was mild and
affable to all. He respected the least ceremonies of the church: everything that
tended to promote piety was dear to him. He was particularly devout to the
passion of our blessed Saviour, the very thought of which excited him to tears,
and threw him into transports of love. He was no less piously affected towards
the sacrifice of the altar, at which he always assisted with such reverence and
attention that he seemed in raptures. And as a mark of his singular devotion to
the Blessed Virgin, he composed, or at least frequently recited, the long hymn
that bears his name, a copy of which was, by his desire, buried with him. His
love for Jesus Christ showed itself in his regard for the poor, who are his
members, to whose relief he applied whatever he had, and employed his credit
with his father, and his brother Uladislas, King of Bohemia, to procure them
succour. His compassion made him feel in himself the afflictions of every
one.

The Palatines and other nobles of Hungary, dissatisfied with
Matthias Corvin, their king, son of the great Huniades, begged the King of
Poland to allow them to place his son Casimir on the throne. The saint, not then
quite fifteen years of age, was very unwilling to consent; but in compliance
with his father's will he went, at the head of an army of twenty thousand men,
to the frontiers in 1471. There hearing that Matthias had formed an army of
sixteen thousand men to defend him, and that all differences were accommodated
between him and his people, and that Pope Sixtus IV had sent an embassy to
divert his father from that expedition, he joyfully returned, having with
difficulty obtained his father's consent so to do. However, as his dropping this
project was disagreeable to the king his father, not to increase his affliction
by appearing before him he did not go directly to Cracow, but retired to the
Castle of Dobzki, three miles from that city, where he continued three months in
the practice of penance. Having learned the injustice of the attempt against the
King of Hungary, in which obedience to his father's command prevailed upon him
to embark when he was very young, he could never be engaged to resume it by
fresh pressing invitation of the Hungarians, or the iterated orders and
entreaties of his father. The twelve years he lived after this he spent in
sanctifying himself in the same manner as he had done before. He observed to the
last an untainted chastity, notwithstanding the advice of physicians who excited
him to marry, imagining, upon some false principle, this to be a means necessary
to preserve his life. Being wasted with a lingering consumption, he foretold his
last hour, and having prepared himself for it by redoubling his exercises of
piety, and receiving the sacraments of the church, he made a happy end at Vilna,
the capital of Lithuania, on the 4th of March, 1484, being twenty-three years
and five months old. He was buried in the Church of St. Stanislas. So many were
the miracles wrought by his intercession that Swiecicki, a canon of Vilna, wrote
a whole volume of them from good memoirs in 1604. He was canonized by Pope Leo
X, whose legate in Poland, Zachary Ferrier, wrote the saint's life. His body,
and all the rich stuffs it was wrapped in, were found quite entire, and exhaling
a sweet smell one hundred and twenty years after his death, notwithstanding the
excessive moisture of the vault. It is honoured in a large rich chapel of
marble, built on purpose in that church. St. Casimir is the patron of Poland and
several other places, and is proposed to youth as a particular pattern of
purity. His original picture is to be seen in his chapel in St. German des Prez
in Paris, built by John Casimir, King of Poland, the last of the family of Waza,
who, renouncing his crown, retired to Paris, and died Abbot of St. Germain's in
1668.

What is there on earth which can engage the affections of a
Christian, or be the object of his ambition, in whose soul God desires to
establish his kingdom? Whoever has conceived a just idea of this immense
happiness and dignity must look upon all the glittering bubbles of this world as
empty and vain, and consider every thing in this life barely as it can advance
or hinder the great object of all his desires. Few arrive at this happy and
glorious state, because scarce any one seeks it with his whole heart, and has
the courage sincerely to renounce all things and die to himself: and this
precious jewel cannot be purchased upon any other terms. The kingdom of God can
only be planted in a soul upon the ruins of self-love: so long as this reigns,
it raises insuperable obstacles to the perfect establishment of the empire of
divine love. The amiable Jesus lives in all souls which he animates by his
sanctifying grace, and the Holy Ghost dwells in all such. But in most of these
how many worldly maxims and inclinations diametrically opposite to those of our
most holy heavenly king, hold their full sway! how many secret disorders and
irregular attachments are cherished! how much is found of self-love, with which
sometimes their spiritual exercises themselves are infected! The sovereign King
of men and their merciful Redeemer is properly said to reign only in those souls
which study effectually, and without reserve, to destroy in their affections
whatever is opposite to his divine will, to subdue all their passions, and to
subject all their powers to his holy love. Such fall not into any venial sins
with full deliberation, and wipe away those of frailty into which they are
betrayed, by the compunction and penance in which they constantly live, and by
the constant attention with which they watch daily over themselves. They pray
with the utmost earnestness that God deliver them from all the power of the
enemy, and establish in all their affections the perfect empire of his grace and
love; and to fulfil his will in the most perfect manner in all their actions is
their most earnest desire and hearty endeavour. How bountifully does God reward,
even in this life, those who are thus liberal toward him! St. Casimir, who had
tasted of this happiness, and learned truly to value the heavenly grace, loathed
all earthly pomp and delights. With what joy ought not all Christians, both rich
and poor, to be filled when they hear: The kingdom of God is within you! With
what ardor ought they not to devote themselves to make God reign perfectly in
their hearts! How justly did St. Casimir prefer this pursuit to earthly
kingdoms!

In remarks concluding a
week of spiritual exercises here at the Vatican under the theme “the communion
of Christians with God”, Pope Benedict thanked the Archbishop of Kinshasa,
Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya for his guidance over the last number of
days.

The Pope said he enjoyed in particular how the Cardinal peppered
his meditations with beautiful stories from his beloved Africa.

The Holy
Father added, that he was particularly impressed by a story the Cardinal
recounted about a friend who had been in a coma.

While in a coma, the
man had the impression of being in a dark tunnel, until finally, he saw a little
light and heard beautiful music.

This story, said Pope Benedict could be
a parable of our own lives in which sometimes we find ourselves in a dark place,
but it is by faith that we see the light and hear beautiful music and feel the
heavenly present of God.

The Holy Father also wrote a personal letter to
the Cardinal thanking him for leading the retreat.

In the letter, Pope
Benedict said, that a source of real joy for him was being able to grasp through
the Cardinal the faith, hope and love of the church on the continent of
Africa.

PROJECT INSPIRED RELEASE: What is Project
Inspired?
Project Inspired is written by former fashion model Nicole
Weider, who believes it’s time for a Hollywood voice to take the best interests
of young women to heart. From relationship and style advice to inspirational
quotes to a real look at celebrities in the media, Nicole draws from her own
experiences to make the message clear to young women: Be a person of value and
confidence – be your own best self – through leading a true Christian life. Need
a good place to start? Try here!What is Project
Anti-Cosmo?Cosmopolitan is emblematic of what’s wrong
with our culture today. The content of the magazine is predominantly (and often
explicitly) about sex. The articles you’ll typically find in its pages advise
“hookups” without a hint of emotional connection. Yet, unlike “R” rated movies,
there’s no “age limit” for anyone to access it, so young teen girls are reading,
absorbing, and acting on its destructive message. Indeed, the increasing focus
on sex sex sex encourages the magazine’s impressionable readers to make the most
shallow choices imaginable. Because of its popularity (it’s in every
supermarket, at the nail salon, in waiting rooms, and on your mom’s nightstand)
it has become one of the media’s worst influences on teenage girls.
Cosmopolitan needs to change its content or be made harder to access.
Join me in my fight to force Cosmopolitan to be more responsible as a
guide in the lives of young women. See my videos
and posts about this important mission!
SIGN PETITION NOW : http://www.change.org/petitions/cosmopolitan-is-aggressively-marketing-explicit-porn-tips-to-minors-put-cosmo-in-a-non-transparent-wrapper-and-sold-to-adults-onlyAbout
Nicole
Nicole Weider is a Salem, Oregon native who moved to Los
Angeles and quickly found success as a fashion model at the age of 17. After
eight years of modeling and acting, she’s ditched her former life and made it
her mission to share her
personal story and faith with young women in the hopes of inspiring them –
with spirituality, truth and fun! – to live their best lives.http://www.projectinspired.com/about/

THENEWS.PL REPORT: The trains, travelling
in from Przemysl to Warsaw and Warsaw to Krakow crashed outside the village of
Szczekociny, near Zawiercie, Silesia province.
"People have probably been
killed,” chief inspector from the Zawiercie police force, Andrzej Świeboda told
the PAP news agency.
"We do not know exactly how many are injured and how
many are dead. It is difficult to talk about numbers," Swieboda added.
The
train from Warsaw to Krakow was travelling on the wrong track, say
witnesses.
President Bronislaw Komorowski has been in contact with Poland's
transport minister and the governor of the Silesian province for details on the
disaster and rescue mission.
“The president is being kept informed,” said
President Komorowski's spokeswoman Joanna Trzaska-Wieczorek.
“All indications
are that this is one of the most serious rail accidents in recent years in our
country,” Transport Minister Slawomir Nowak told the TVN 24 news
channel.
Silesian fire brigade spokesman Jaroslaw Wojtasik informed that 200
fire fighters are attending the crash site. Two Air Rescue helicopters from
Warsaw and Wroclaw have also been called to help in rescue operations.
(pg)SOURCE http://thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/92168,15-dead-in-train-crash-south-west-Poland

MOGADISHU, March 02, 2012
(CISA) -The killing of a third journalist in just two months in Mogadishu
is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by media workers and activists in the
Somali capital, Amnesty International has said.

Abukar Hasan Mohamud ‘Kadaf’, the former
director of private radio station Somaliweyn, was shot dead by unidentified
gunmen on Tuesday February 27 evening in front of his home in the Wadajir
district of Mogadishu. He was buried on Wednesday in the capital.

He was reportedly working with a youth and
peace organization after Radio Somaliweyn was raided and closed down by the
al-Shabab armed group in May 2010.

He is the third journalist to be killed in a
targeted attack in the last two months in Mogadishu, despite the city now being
under the control of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and African Union
forces.

“Security will not be achieved in
government-controlled areas until those who are responsible for attacks on media
workers and activists are held to account,” said Michelle Kagari, Deputy
Director for Amnesty International’s Africa programme.

“Every effort must be made to stop a
re-emerging pattern of targeted killings against civil society actors. This
includes conducting thorough investigations into the murders, ensuring that
perpetrators are brought to justice in fair trials, and re-establishing the rule
of law.”

Though journalists and civil society actors
have been continuously at risk in Somalia, targeted attacks against them peaked
in 2007 and 2008.

At the London international conference on
Somalia last week, the international community highlighted the need for
journalists to operate freely and without fear. It called for action to address
human rights violations and abuses and committed to focus more on supporting the
Somali justice and security sectors.

“The international community should now put
these commitments into practice and step up efforts to help rebuild the rule of
law in Somalia. It is essential that Somali civil society actors, who continue
to risk their lives, are fully consulted in ways to improve their protection,”
said Michelle Kagari.

At least 25 Somali journalists have been killed
in Somalia since 2007, and many others have been injured.

Though the TFG opened investigations into these
last killings, and reportedly held suspects, these have not led to criminal
prosecutions.

No one has been brought to justice for any of
these attacks. All parties to the conflict have threatened and attacked
journalists and civil society actors, and have restricted freedom of
expression.

ASIA NEWS
REPORT: by Jibran Khan - Shafique KhokharMasses are celebrated and prayer vigils held in various cities
on the first anniversary of his death. In the capital, a torchlight procession
reaches the scene of his murder by Muslim extremists. Paul Bhatti receives the
APMA flag as an encouragement to continue Shahbaz's mission. Thanks to latter's
work, four seats have been reserved for minorities in the upcoming senate
elections.

Islamabad (AsiaNews) - Pakistani Christians,
but also Muslims, Hindus and other minorities are appealing to Pope Benedict XVI
to make "Shahbaz Bhatti, a martyr of the Church". They did so at ceremonies
marking the first anniversary of the Catholic minister assassinated on 2 March
2011. Masses and prayer vigils were held in Faisalabad, his birthplace of
Khushpur (Punjab), Lahore, Multan, Karachi and other locations.

In the
capital, Islamabad, where Bhatti was killed by extremists, a final ceremony was
held with a torchlight procession (pictured) passing by his home, scene
of the deadly ambush.

During the ceremony, a group of activists handed
Paul Bhatti, Shahbaz's brother and national harmony adviser to Prime Minister
Gilani, a flag of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA), an organisation
founded by the slain minister, to encourage him to continue the fight for
equality of rights for all citizens.

Shahbaz Bhatti was killed in the
morning of 2 March 2011 on his way to work, his body riddled with some 30
bullets.

For months, the authorities tried to cover up the affair,
blaming the murder on a family dispute and later, on financial matters.

So far, it is unclear who carried out the attacks, but the murder was
immediately claimed by an extremist Pakistani faction. Police acknowledge that
they are still in the dark.

Still, many in Pakistan want to keep Shahbaz
Bhatti's memory alive, by promoting his political-cultural testament in favour
of a secular and multicultural Pakistan as the Father of the Nation, Ali Jinnah,
had envisaged it.

Mons. Joseph Coutts, archbishop of Karachi and a
personal friend of Shahbaz Bhatti, celebrated the memorial Mass. In his homily,
the prelate said, "Shahbaz Bhatti is alive in our memories for his mission and
sacrifice in the name of Christianity. He was the ambassador of peace, love, and
quality and brotherhood, and we will continue our struggle in his
footsteps."

Fr Anjum Nazir praised Shahbaz's unwavering faith. Indeed,
"He always had a Rosary with him that showed his bonding with the
faith."

Interpreting the wishes of Pakistan's Christian community, Fr
Pervez Emmanuel appealed "to the pope to declare Shahbaz Bhatti a Martyr of the
Church".

The Minority Affairs minister was killed for his fight against
the country's blasphemy legislation and for defending Asia Bibi, the 45-year-old
mother of five sentenced to death on charges stemming from the 'black
law'.

Fr Pervaiz, parish priest in predominantly Catholic Khushpur, spoke
about the upcoming Senate elections, where for the first time and thanks to the
late minister's efforts, four seats will be assigned to minority
representatives. "This is the result of Shahbaz's work," he
said.

"Shahbaz Bhatti lived his life as a true follower of Jesus Christ,"
said P. Anwar Patras. "He knew he would be assassinated but stood firm for the
voiceless and the marginalised communities."

Chicago priest Fr Robert Barron, often described as "one of
the Church's best messengers" and director of the very popular new
evangelisation ministry Word on Fire arrives in Australia this weekend for a
series of speaking engagements.
Accompanied by his film crew Fr Barron will
also be interviewing a number of our leading clergy including the Archbishop of
Sydney, Cardinal George Pell.
Ordained in 1986 Fr Barron is the Francis
Cardinal George Professor of Faith and Culture at the University of St. Mary of
the Lake near Chicago.
However it was Cardinal Francis who gave him the task
of "converting Chicago".
Fr Barron launched "Word on Fire Catholic
Ministries", a non-profit organisation which supports his evangelistic
endeavours. His programs are broadcast in the United States on television, radio
and his website. He writes articles, commentaries and blogs regularly and is
called upon frequently to comment on faith and church matters for the secular
media.
On top of that he travels extensively filming and lecturing.
His
recent 10-part documentary The Catholicism Project took him to 16 countries.
Apologists to priests and parishioners have called the series the best they have
seen. It features everything from the early philosophers and saints to baseball
and even the slums of Calcutta. True reality TV.

On-the-road with Fr Barron

Last year
Fr Barron became the first priest since Archbishop Fulton Sheen in the 1950s to
have a regular, national program on a commercial television network in the
US.

He has been described
as providing a deep and profound excursion into spirituality, logic and the
human experience and his insights on life's most challenging issues "shake you
to the core".
Fr Barron's first lecture is the Harman Lecture at the John
Paul 11 Institute in Melbourne at 3pm.
He will then talk to a group of young
people Sunday night at Theology in the Pub at the Cardinal Know Centre followed
by another talk on Monday morning and Monday night at ACU.
Then it is on to
Ballarat and the ACU Aquinas Campus before heading to Sydney where on Wednesday
night he will be at Guardians, St Charbel's at Punchbowl; Thursday morning at
11am thee will be a talk and screening at the ACY Strathfield Campus; Saturday a
talk for priests, religious and educators also at Strathfield and on Sunday
night at 8pm a talk and screening at Our Lady of Lebanon Parish Centre at Harris
Park. His final Sydney talk and screening will be to teachers of the Archdiocese
of Sydney before heading to Brisbane and Canberra.
While in Sydney Fr Barron
will also interview Cardinal Pell for his television program in the US and
Catholic Communications will interview Fr Barron for this website and our social
network xt3.com and also record one of his lectures.
ACU is the major sponsor
for Fr Robert Barron's Australian tour. For more information visithttp://students.acu.edu.au/student_life/campus_community/faith_on_campus/upcoming_events/frrobertbarron/
SOURCE http://www.sydneycatholic.org/news/latest_news/2012/201232_604.shtml

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. on 26 November
1858, Katharine was the second daughter of Francis Anthony Drexel, a wealthy
banker, and his wife, Hannah Jane. The latter died a month after Katharine's
birth, and two years later her father married Emma Bouvier, who was a devoted
mother, not only to her own daughter Louisa (born 1862), but also to her two
step-daughters. Both parents instilled into the children by word and example
that their wealth was simply loaned to them and was to be shared with
others.

Katharine was educated privately at home; she travelled
widely in the United States and in Europe. Early in life she became aware of the
plight of the Native Americans and the Blacks; when she inherited a vast fortune
from her father and step-mother, she resolved to devote her wealth to helping
these disadvantaged people. In 1885 she established a school for Native
Americans at Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Later, during an audience with Pope Leo XIII, she asked him
to recommend a religious congregation to staff the institutions which she was
financing. The Pope suggested that she herself become a missionary, so in 1889
she began her training in religious life with the Sisters of Mercy at
Pittsburgh.

In 1891, with a few companions, Mother Katharine founded the
Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People. The title of
the community summed up the two great driving forces in her life—devotion to the
Blessed Sacrament and love for the most deprived people in her country.

Requests for help reached Mother Katharine from various
parts of the United States. During her lifetime, approximately 60 schools were
opened by her congregation. The most famous foundation was made in 1915; it was
Xavier University, New Orleans, the first such institution for Black people in
the United States.

In 1935 Mother Katharine suffered a heart attack, and in
1937 she relinquished the office of superior general. Though gradually becoming
more infirm, she was able to devote her last years to Eucharistic adoration, and
so fulfil her life’s desire. She died at the age of 96 at Cornwell Heights,
Pennsylvania, on 3 March 1955. Her cause for beatification was introduced in
1966; she was declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II on 26 January 1987, by
whom she was also beatified on 20 November
1988.